You Must Choose

IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUSBefore we get started on what the gospel claims, we want to share three principal thoughts: 1. It’s all about Jesus 2. Salvation is simple 3. It is important; you cannot avoid making a choice But, mostly, it’s all about Jesus. Now we’ll get into a bit more nitty-gritty, but still keep it high level. Oh, and don’t get discouraged with how it starts. It truly is Good News! #1 Why does it matter?You will die. We will die. Everyone will die and then something will happen. As the writer of Hebrews says: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Sticking your head in the sand will not avoid that eventuality. Unless atheists are right (and there is ample “reasonable doubt” about their view), your choice is made on this short side of eternity, but it holds for perpetuity. And you must choose. Not choosing is also a choice against your creator. You know Paul was right when he wrote: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God... (Romans 3:23).  That apostle also told us what the result of our judgment will be: For the wages of sin is death... (Romans 6:23a). Be honest. You know you’ve done bad things. You know bad things deserve punishment. So, knowing what happens to you when you die is of the utmost importance, isn’t it? Ignoring it is playing a horrible game of Russian Roulette, since you also do not know when you will die, no matter how healthy you feel. You will die. You will be judged. You will come up short. And you will be deservedly punished, unless... #2 What must I do?If you’ve read this far, you may be convinced of your precarious state and want the answer to the natural question that comes from that understanding. Or maybe you aren’t convinced, but have an open mind. Or maybe you are reading this, hoping to debunk it. Praise God regardless! Remember #2 above? “Salvation is simple”? Well, it is. The Bible specifically records someone asking the natural question in Acts 16:30-31: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. See? No huge set of religious hurdles to jump over or hoops to jump through. Think that’s too good to be true? How about a couple more times where Scripture shows just how simple it is? Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:37-38). That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9). See? All three sets of verses essentially say the same thing: If you believe in the Lord Jesus, you will be saved.  Simple.  #3 It’s all about JesusNotice how we’ve circled back to what we previously said, “It’s all about Jesus”? If everything we listed in #2 doesn’t prove that to you, let's look at more complete quotations for a couple verses we mentioned in our “you’ve got a problem” section: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24, emphasis ours). For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23, emphasis ours). It really is good news! • Yes, you have a problem, but... • There is a solution, and it is... • Simple and free. Well, simple and free for you. Jesus, however, paid for your “simple and free” eternal salvation with a physically, emotionally, and spiritually excruciating death on the cross. Because He and the Father love you: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). And now you understand why that verse shows up at so many sporting events. It is all about Jesus. What now?The grave couldn’t hold Jesus; don’t let your sins hold you. If the Holy Spirit has used this tract to help show you of your need, the solution, and that it is all about Jesus, then... Don't wait!